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Home → China Tours → Silk Road Tours → Zhangye Travel Guide

Zhangye Travel Guide

Location: Zhangye is located in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor, far western Gansu Province.

Population: about 1,270,000

Area: 4,240 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Hui, Mongolia, Yugu nationality,

History: It is an important part of the ancient Silk Road and belongs to the national historical and cultural city. It is close to Wuwei in the east and Jjiuquan in the west. In 121 BC, in order to acquire its fame, the emperor of Qing Dynasty sent general Huo Qubing to Hexi to conquer the Huns (a tribe of people). After that, the Huns were named Zhangye.

Climate: Zhangye has a continental climate. Like its western neighbors Dunhuang and Jiayuguan, the climate here is characterized by dryness all the year round. The annual temperature for the city is 6.8℃. January is the coldest month, while July the hottest. Generally speaking, the optimum time to pay the city a visit is from June to September.

Transportation: By far the easiest way to get to Zhangye is still by train, for it is a major stop along the Lanzhou-Urumqi Railway Line. Each day there are more than 10 daily trains going to and beyond Zhangye. There is a nightly express train that from Lanzhou to Zhangye to Zhangye after 12 hours. You can cost RMB3 by mini bus or RMB 10 by taxi, for the railway station is about 10kms from the city center. It is also very convenient to go to or from Zhangye by bus. The Eastern Bus Station, south down Donghuancheng lu from the Hexi Hotel, dispatches 8 daily buses in the evening to Lanzhou, three of which have sleeper seats (sleeper: RMB85; non-sleeper: RMB35; duration: 15 hours). There are also 3 buses each morning to Jiayuguan (fare: RMB20; duration: 5 hours).

Local Specialties: Wujiang Rice, Minyue Garlic, Gaotai Capsicum, Linze Chinese Date

Local Food: Saozi noodles, Cuoyumian, Niangpizi, Stewed pork

Major Attractions:
The Giant Buddha Temple – The Giant Buddha Temple, with the original name Jiayerulaipian Temple is in the southeast part of Zhangye, which is the largest temple in Gansu. The great Buddhist Temple is 33 meters high. A Buddhist made up of wood, soil and plastic lies in the temple. It is said to be the largest lying Buddha in China.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower - The bell and drum tower in Zhangye, the biggest drum tower in the Hexi Corridor of the silk road district, was built in 1507 during the Ming Dynasty. In 1648 during the Qing Dynasty, it was destroyed by war. In 1668, Zhang Yong, the superintendent of Gansu, rebuilt the bell and drum tower.

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